First of all, I wish to address words of welcome to all participants, as well as to state my joy for the realization of an event that indeed goes back to the end of 2006/beginning of 2007, when I and the co-coordinator of the Research Group in American Studies, my colleague and dear friend Teresa Cid, were invited to join Francisco Cota Fagundes and Irene Maria F. Blayer in the organization of a Conference on the Portuguese Diaspora, which took place in 2008. That memorable occasion, which brought some of you back to Lisbon, gave rise to a genuine and inspirational dialogue among the participants, as it has been recorded in Narrating the Portuguese Diaspora: Piecing Things Together (Peter Lang 2011) and Portugal Pelo Mundo Disperso (Tinta-Da-China 2013) Both volumes testify to the wealth of creativity and the multiple directions of what is being accomplished in this area of Studies. Significantly, these volumes were made possible by the spirit of collaboration among the four editors and between them and the contributors, thereby catching the emotional aura that pervaded the 2008 conference in Lisbon, which ended on the note that the event was to be repeated in the near future.
The Conference we are now opening is mainly focused on the North-American Diaspora, namely, The United States and Canada, and results from several convergences. At a national level, between The American Studies Research Group from the University of Lisbon Center for English Studies (ULICES) and the Centre for English, Translation and Anglo-Portuguese Studies (CETAPS), respectively directed by Professors Isabel Fernandes and Rui Carvalho Homem whom I wish to salute and thank for all the facilities granted. A special salutation is also due to Margarida Vale de Gato and Isabel Oliveira Martins, conference coordinators, respectively from ULICES and CETAPS, representing the different committees, involved in the preparation of the conference and not sparing any effort to make it happen. At, an international level, the convergence involves: the Dzanc Books/CNC DISQUIET International Literary Program that has been taking place in Lisbon since the 30th of June, and the IJPDS’s International Conference Exploring the Portuguese Diaspora in InterDISCIPLINARY and Comparative Perspectives, occuring in Indianapolis, Indiana between July 25 and 27th.
The American Studies Research Group, “Interfacing Cultures and Identities,” is particularly fortunate to benefit from such a convergence, which allows for the dialogue and the reunion with fellow collaborators with whom we have developed a working and friendly relationship. I wish to express our gratitude to them, in the persons of Jeff Parker from the Disquiet Program and of Irene Blayer, Dulce Scott, Francisco Cota Fagundes and Teresa Cid, the organizers of the Indianapolis Conference. The so-called convergence is particularly significant to us as a Research Group. It goes without saying that we owe, what I would call our distinctive approach, to the existence of the Luso-American Studies. Other European Americanists concerned with this area may employ similar methodologies but with a meaningful difference: they necessarily come to it from a foreign point of view, whereas we share the Portuguese origin so relevant for the analysis of the culturally hybrid identity.
Thank you very much. The conference is open!
(July 11, 2013)
Teresa Alves
University of Lisbon
PALAVRAS DE BOAS-VINDAS
O congresso que estamos a iniciar tem principalmente incidência na diáspora norte-americana, nomeadamente nos Estados Unidos e Canadá, e opera várias convergências. A nível nacional entre o American Studies Research Group from the Univesity of Lisbon Center for English Studies (Ulices) e o Centre for English, Translation and Anglo-Portuguese Studies (CETAPS), respectivamente dirigidos pela Professora Isabel Fernandes e pelo Professor Rui Carvalho Homem, a quem endereço os meus melhores agradecimentos por todas as facilidades concedidas. Uma saudação especial é também devida a Margarida Vale de Gato e Isabel Oliveira Martins, coordenadoras do congresso e respectivamente associadas ao Ulysses e ao CETAPS, saudação que se estende a todas as outras comissões que, à semelhança da coordenação, não se pouparam a esforços para que este congresso pudesse acontecer. A nível internacional, a convergência envolve :os Dzanc Books/CNC DISQUIET International Literary Program, que ainda decorre em Lisboa, tendo se iniciado a 30 de Junho e prolongando-se até 12 de JUlho), bem como o congresso promovido pelo IJPDS com o título International Conference Exploring the Portuguese Diaspora in InterDISCIPLINARY and Comparative Perspectives que ocorrerá em Indianápolis, Indiana entre 25 e 27 de Julho.
O Grupo de Investigação em Estudos Americanos, “Interface de Culturas e Identidades” sente-se particularmente afortunado por operar nesta dinâmica de convergências que possibilita o dialogo e reencontro com colaboradores com quem firmámos sólidas relações de trabalho e amigo convívio, e aos quais desejamos expressar a nossa gratidão nas pessoas de Jeff Parker do Disquiet Program e de Irene Blayer, Dulce Scott, Francisco Cota Fagundes e Teresa Cid, organizadores do Congresso que se realiza em Indianapolis. A referida dinâmica de convergências é particularmente significativa para nós enquanto Grupo de Investigação. Escusado será dizer que à nossa vertente de investigação nos Estudos Luso-Americanos devemos a genuína singularidade do nosso trabalho. Efectivamente outros grupos europeus de investigação na área da Americanística podem usar abordagens semelhantes às nossas, excepto quando se debruçam na análise da cultura luso americana. Observam-na necessariamente de fora, enquanto nós partilhamos com essa cultura a matriz portuguesa, tão necessária à análise do seu hibridismo identitário cultural. Muito Obrigada!
